Óengus mac Nad Froích
Encyclopedia
Óengus mac Nad Froích was an Eoganachta
and the first Christian king
of Munster
. He was the son of Nad Froich mac Cuirc by Faochan, a British lady (called daughter of the King of Britain). In Geoffrey Keating's History of Ireland Oengus is given a reign of 36 years which would place the start of his reign as early as 453.
He was baptized a Christian in the royal seat of Cashel
by Saint Patrick
himself and imposed a baptismal tax on the Christian converts of Munster for St. Patrick. It is mentioned that half of his numerous progeny were given into the church. St Patrick baptized him in blood by driving his crozier through the king's foot. The king became very devout and surrounded himself with clerics.
In 489 was fought the battle of Cenn Losnada in Mag Fea in which he was slain. His wife Eithni Uathach ingen Cremthainn, called "the hateful", was also killed. She was a member of the Uí Cheinnselaig
sept of the Laigin
. The victors included Iollann mac Dunlaing, and Oilill, his brother of the Uí Dúnlainge
sept of Laigin, and Eochaidh Guinech of the Uí Bairrche
sept of Laigin, and Muirchertach Mac Ercae, the Ui Neill
king of Ailech. His head was given to Iollan.
He was the ancestor of three major septs of the Eoganacht including the Cashel, Arithir Cliach, and Glendamnach lines. His daughter Uichtdhealdh married Ailill Molt
of Connaught.
Óengus appears in the 9th-century literary text The Expulsion of the Déisi
, in which he grants land to the wandering Déisi
hoard. The story is set in the time of Cormac mac Airt
, who is said to have lived 200 years before Óengus.
Eóganachta
The Eóganachta or Eoghanachta were an Irish dynasty centred around Cashel which dominated southern Ireland from the 6/7th to the 10th centuries, and following that, in a restricted form, the Kingdom of Desmond, and its offshoot Carbery, well into the 16th century...
and the first Christian king
Kings of Munster
The name Munster is derived from the Gaelic God, Muman. The province of Munster was once divided into six regions: Tuadh Mhuman , Des Mhuman , Aur/Ur Mumhan , Iar mumhan or Iarmuman , Ernaibh Muman , and Deisi Muman...
of Munster
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
. He was the son of Nad Froich mac Cuirc by Faochan, a British lady (called daughter of the King of Britain). In Geoffrey Keating's History of Ireland Oengus is given a reign of 36 years which would place the start of his reign as early as 453.
He was baptized a Christian in the royal seat of Cashel
Cashel, County Tipperary
Cashel is a town in South Tipperary in Ireland. Its population was 2936 at the 2006 census. The town gives its name to the ecclesiastical province of Cashel. Additionally, the cathedra of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly was originally in the town prior to the English Reformation....
by Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick was a Romano-Briton and Christian missionary, who is the most generally recognized patron saint of Ireland or the Apostle of Ireland, although Brigid of Kildare and Colmcille are also formally patron saints....
himself and imposed a baptismal tax on the Christian converts of Munster for St. Patrick. It is mentioned that half of his numerous progeny were given into the church. St Patrick baptized him in blood by driving his crozier through the king's foot. The king became very devout and surrounded himself with clerics.
In 489 was fought the battle of Cenn Losnada in Mag Fea in which he was slain. His wife Eithni Uathach ingen Cremthainn, called "the hateful", was also killed. She was a member of the Uí Cheinnselaig
Uí Cheinnselaig
The Uí Ceinnselaig , from the Old Irish "grandsons of Cennsalach", are an Irish dynasty of Leinster who trace their descent from Énnae Cennsalach, a supposed contemporary of Niall of the Nine Hostages...
sept of the Laigin
Laigin
The Laigin, modern spelling Laighin , were a population group of early Ireland who gave their name to the province of Leinster...
. The victors included Iollann mac Dunlaing, and Oilill, his brother of the Uí Dúnlainge
Uí Dúnlainge
The Uí Dúnlainge, from the Old Irish "grandsons of Dúnlaing", were an Irish dynasty of Leinster kings who traced their descent from Dúnlaing mac Énda Niada. He was said to be a cousin of Énnae Cennsalach, eponymous ancestor of the rival Uí Chennselaig....
sept of Laigin, and Eochaidh Guinech of the Uí Bairrche
Uí Bairrche
Uí Bairrche was an Irish kin-based group that originally held lands in the south of the ancient province of Leinster . Another south Leinster kin group associated with the Uí Bairrche were groups of the Fothairt. The south of Leinster was dominated by the Uí Chennselaig in the 8th century...
sept of Laigin, and Muirchertach Mac Ercae, the Ui Neill
Uí Néill
The Uí Néill are Irish and Scottish dynasties who claim descent from Niall Noigiallach , an historical King of Tara who died about 405....
king of Ailech. His head was given to Iollan.
He was the ancestor of three major septs of the Eoganacht including the Cashel, Arithir Cliach, and Glendamnach lines. His daughter Uichtdhealdh married Ailill Molt
Ailill Molt
Ailill mac Nath Í , called Ailill Molt, is included in most lists of the High Kings of Ireland and is also called King of Connacht. His cognomen, molt, means "ram" but its origin is unknown....
of Connaught.
Óengus appears in the 9th-century literary text The Expulsion of the Déisi
The Expulsion of the Déisi
The Expulsion of the Déisi is a medieval Irish narrative of the Cycles of the Kings. It dates approximately to the 8th century, but survives only in manuscripts of a much later date. It describes the fictional history of the Déisi, a group that had gained political power in parts of Ireland during...
, in which he grants land to the wandering Déisi
Déisi
The Déisi were a class of peoples in ancient and medieval Ireland. The term is Old Irish, and derives from the word déis, meaning "vassal" or "subject"; in its original sense, it designated groups who were vassals or rent-payers to a landowner. Later, it became a proper name for certain septs and...
hoard. The story is set in the time of Cormac mac Airt
Cormac mac Airt
Cormac mac Airt , also known as Cormac ua Cuinn or Cormac Ulfada , was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland...
, who is said to have lived 200 years before Óengus.